Cricket: White Ferns crush Australia

Leigh Kasperek was named player of the match after New Zealand's win over Australia. Photo / ICC/Getty Images

The White Ferns have taken a leaf out of the Black Caps' approach against India and pulled off a crushing six wicket win over Australia at the Twenty20 World Cup in Nagpur.

New Zealand's won by six wickets after reducing the world champs to four for four early on.

Australia could only muster 103 for eight which the White Ferns chased down in the 17th over.

New Zealand off-spinner Leigh Kasperek finished with three for 13 and while named player of the match, while left-arm spinner Morna Nielsen, who opened the bowling, conceded just four runs from her four overs.

Captain Suzie Bates refused to make her team the favourite to win a maiden ICC Women's World Twenty20 title after beating the reigning champion.

"I am really proud of the way we played today but we are under no illusion that we will win the title," the New Zealand captain said. "We are treating every game as a knock-out game.

"I am sure if we play the way we are, we can win it. If things go our way, we can win it. But we are not looking too far ahead."

New Zealand was runners-up in the first two editions, losing to England in 2009 and to Australia in 2010.

Lanning admitted the Southern Stars were outplayed by New Zealand.

"It is obviously disappointing, but we never quite got into the game," the Australia captain said. "Once you get on the back foot, it is very difficult to recover.

"New Zealand outplayed us in this game. We just did not play well enough and New Zealand did."

The White Ferns complete group play against South Africa on Sunday morning.